For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David.

     1Give ear to my prayer, O God;
            And do not hide Thyself from my supplication.

     2Give heed to me, and answer me;
            I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted,

     3Because of the voice of the enemy,
            Because of the pressure of the wicked;
            For they bring down trouble upon me,
            And in anger they bear a grudge against me.

     4My heart is in anguish within me,
            And the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

     5Fear and trembling come upon me;
            And horror has overwhelmed me.

     6And I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!
            I would fly away and be at rest.

     7“Behold, I would wander far away,
            I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah.

     8“I would hasten to my place of refuge
            From the stormy wind and tempest.”

     9Confuse, O Lord, divide their tongues,
            For I have seen violence and strife in the city.

     10Day and night they go around her upon her walls;
            And iniquity and mischief are in her midst.

     11Destruction is in her midst;
            Oppression and deceit do not depart from her streets.

     12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me,
            Then I could bear it;
            Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me,
            Then I could hide myself from him.

     13But it is you, a man my equal,
            My companion and my familiar friend.

     14We who had sweet fellowship together,
            Walked in the house of God in the throng.

     15Let death come deceitfully upon them;
            Let them go down alive to Sheol,
            For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.

     16As for me, I shall call upon God,
            And the LORD will save me.

     17Evening and morning and at noon, I will complain and murmur,
            And He will hear my voice.

     18He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me,
            For they are many who strive with me.

     19God will hear and answer them—
            Even the one who sits enthroned from of old— Selah.
            With whom there is no change,
            And who do not fear God.

     20He has put forth his hands against those who were at peace with him;
            He has violated his covenant.

     21His speech was smoother than butter,
            But his heart was war;
            His words were softer than oil,
            Yet they were drawn swords.

     22Cast your burden upon the LORD, and He will sustain you;
            He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

     23But Thou, O God, wilt bring them down to the pit of destruction;
            Men of bloodshed and deceit will not live out half their days.
            But I will trust in Thee.